Poland to Ban Mobile Phones in Schools

Poland wants to ban under-16s from using mobile phones in schools from September 1st, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday. The proposed bill would ban children aged 7 to 15 from using phones on school premises, including breaks between classes, and give schools legal basis for creating deposits to store phones. We have a civilizational problem of addiction of virtually everyone, especially the youngest, to platforms, games, etc. We realize that this can have disastrous consequences for children's lives and for the country," Tusk said. In February, Polish Education Minister Barbara Nowaka also outlined plans to ban children under 15 from using social media, opening the door to a potential clash with major U.S. tech firms. Countries including the Netherlands, South Korea, and Italy have also banned smartphones in schools due to concerns over their impact on concentration and behavior. Others have restricted or are considering banning children's access to social media.